In 2023, turnover decreased the most in the last 14 years

Christmas sales did not affect the retail turnover, it was also lower in December than in 2022. The record annual decline in turnover at the level of 4.5% was due to negative developments in large hyper- and supermarkets and in specialized stores across the entire sector.

In the last month of 2023, retail turnover¹⁾ decreased year-on-year by 4%. It was the eleventh consecutive month when turnover after adjustment by inflation on a monthly basis were below last year's level. Up to 7 out of 9 retail components had lower turnover than a year ago. The most significant impact on this result was a double-digit decrease (-11.4%) in e-shops and mail-order sales (sales not in stores, stands and markets). Not even hypermarkets and supermarkets were able to pull Christmas sales to the level of 2022, its turnover decreased year-on-year by 3% in December.

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In the last month of the year, the year-on-year decline in turnover was also recorded in wholesale²⁾, sale and repair of motor vehicles and accommodation. Increases in turnover were recorded only in food and beverage service activities.

In a month-on-month comparison³⁾, turnover increased in accommodation by 3.8%, in retail trade by 0.5% and in wholesale by 0.1%. On the contrary, in December 2023, compared to November 2023, turnover in food and beverage service activities fell by 8.1% and in sale and repair of motor vehicles by 1%.

Development of retail turnover in 2023

In 2023, turnover in retail trade reached a 4.5% lower value in constant prices than in 2022. After two years of moderate growth, when retail turnover in constant prices resisted the inflation, they ended in negative values in 2023. It was the worst result in retail trade since 2009, when turnover dropped by more than 10%.

In total, in 2023, the decrease in turnover was recorded by traders in 6 of the 9 monitored components of the retail trade. The most significant was a decrease in turnover of hyper- and supermarkets by 4.7%, as well as a more dynamic decline of 14.9% in hobby markets, furniture and electrical goods stores (in specialized stores with household goods). The third most significant decrease was a year-on-year decline in turnover by 5% in specialized stores with other goods, including among others drugstores, pharmacies, shoes or textile stores. Turnover of e-shops and mail-order sales (sales not in stores, stands and markets) also ended in negative values, in summary for the entire year 2023, their turnover were down by 5.9%. A double-digit year-on-year decrease was also recorded by specialized stores of food, beverage and tobacco.

A more significant overall decline in the sector was prevented by almost 11% higher turnover of stores with PC and ICT equipment and slightly higher turnover of stores relating to culture and recreation, which include bookstores, toy and sports goods stores. The sector was also positively affected by a 30% increase in turnover of fuel stores, but this was influenced by the transfer of reporting units to this component of the sector from the beginning of 2023.

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As for the other components of internal trade, turnover in sale and repair of motor vehicles achieved year-on-year growth in 2023, by 14.3%. Turnover in accommodation increased by 13.3% and in food and beverage service activities by 11.9%. However, their growth rates slowed significantly compared to 2022. Turnover in wholesale decreased by 3.7%.